Disclaimer: sings Domo Arigatou thinks…Rumiko Takahashi…

Love Me as I Am

Chapter 64-Back to Love

Inuyasha sat with his legs crossed beside a small Japanese table with his hands in his lap.

"What's wrong this time?" Kagome wondered, setting his ramen in front of him.

"Stupid monk cheated again at mahjong."

"That's a Chinese game isn't it?" Suki inquired.

Inuyasha nodded.

"Were you gambling?"

Inuyasha defiantly crossed his arms.

"Geez Kagome. Since when do I ever gamble? Miroku's the stupid one. Seems like you don't know me as well as I thought you did."

Kagome sighed.

"Well it isn't as if either of our families have much to loose I suppose."

"Actually…" Inuyasha spoke up once again. "…we were playing for information."

"I-Information?"

"Hai."

Kagome cocked a brow and looked suspiciously at him.

"What kind of information?"

Inuyasha's face paled at the stare Kagome was giving him as he fidgeted nervously and fingered the beads around his neck.

"Well uh…um…"

It was a dire situation for him and just as Kagome was about to utter the 's' word Suki threw her arms into the air.

"I'm SURE I don't want to know DAD and neither does Yasuo or my sister. Can I JUST tell you what I've been waiting to say for the past half an hour?"

The room went silent and every noise could be heard from a breath of air to Inuyasha's ever nervous move as Kagome stared him down.

"Arigatou. Now, in my hand you see a jewel shard."

Everyone's eyes grew big as they gaped at the object. They oddly resembled stunned salmon.

"Uh…"

Silence.

"I know what you're thinking. You're thinking," and she used gestures to mimic them, "Suki, did you break the jewel again? Are we going to have to find the shards?"

Still no one said anything, Yasuo sighing and continuing where Suki left off.

"The shards have been deactivated and no act only as keys to the future."

At that Kagome's eyes widened.

"I had almost forgotten…" she muttered, almost ashamed that she hadn't been to visit her mother in almost a month.

"I noticed." Suki replied.

"So…why so many shards?" wondered Inuyasha, eyeing the other shards in her palm suspiciously.

"So EVERYBODY can have one!" Suki said smiling.

"Another thing though. They are of no use to subjects who are impure of heart and of their intentions for traveling through time."

"Does that mean Miroku can't have one?" Inuyasha joked.

"Not THAT kind of impure." Suki assured him as she put a shard around everyone's neck, making sure to give the shiniest one to her sister as she kissed her forehead. Kuneau giggled and admired her necklace. Big sister was SO cool."

Sango was sprawled out on the futon, balancing baby Miyatsu on top of her knees and playing with him as Miroku watched from the doorway. IT was a strange bond that only a mother could have with her child and not even Miroku could understand. Miyatsu would just stare at her tentatively without completely smiling because his muscles weren't able to do that yet, and yet it was enough. His eyes smiled though and not even he could hide it.

"You know Miroku. I like having a boy."

"And why is that?"

"Just look at him."

"Yeah?" Miroku replied, taking a good look at his son.

"He's different. Every child is different but he's more alert than Trinity was. It's almost as if he understands us in a way…and yet…his face remains straight and he looks just a clueless as ever." She replied, giggling softly.

Sango took Miyatsu off her knees and held him close to her chest. As he began to cry she took that as a sign that he was hungry. That was what made him different than a girl. While girls were hungry a lot, NOTHING could compare to a guy's appetite.

Sango slipped the top of her kimono off for a feeding as Miroku settled behind her and began to rub her shoulders.

"It's just like the old days."

Sango sighed and leaned back into him slightly, holding Miyatsu a bit closer to her skin.

"Well…it can never be like the old old days ever again."

"Well in the sense that we were lonely I suppose not. I don't want to know the meaning of lonely anymore."

"Sango…" whispered Miroku as he set his chin on her shoulder and nuzzled her head slightly with his.

"You will never be alone. I am with you and will be with you…kore kara zutto itsumademo." (for always and forever)

"I know…I know."

Months passed and Rin was due soon. The pregnancy had gone well but of course, it was partially due to Sesshomaru that she didn't destroy the whole mansion out of frustration and because of her mood swings.

Every night, Rin would lie awake in bed, thinking Sesshomaru was sleeping. Little did she know, for every hour she was awake Sesshomaru was awake also. She had no idea how much she worried him.

It wasn't insomnia that kept her up or at least no most of the time. Sometimes the babies would move too much to allow her to sleep peacefully so she would just sigh and lie awake instead.

But Sesshomaru wasn't happy about it. She was up again and he decided to do something about it. Rin needed sleep more than he did after all. Slowly he wrapped his arm around her causing her to gasp and tense against him as he rubbed her stomach gently. One of the babies's kicked and he paused for a moment. It had surprised him a bit but he quickly resumed the massage. Rin set her hand on his.

'My body…it feels…so warm…'

"S-Sesshomaru…"

"My chikara…or energy. It's soothing is it not?"

Rin nodded slowly as she leaned more against his sturdy frame. Her back spooned against his chest and she could feel his moist breath on her ear.

"The soreness of my muscles is numbed. It feels…wonderful."

Rin wrapped her hand gently around Sesshomaru's index and middle fingers.

"I don't feel them moving anymore."]

"They are asleep. Sesshomaru replied.

Rin enjoyed the slight feeling of vibration and the numbing sensation. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before.

"When it comes time for me to give birth…you will do this again…won't you?"

Sesshomaru nodded slowly.

"It's cheating in a sense…but hai. I will not allow you to go through all that pain without some sort of comfort."

"Arigatou…but you know…even your mere presence would be enough…"

"Rin…"

Rin forced herself around and onto her other side to look at the demon lord beside her. Her face was dangerously close to his and her breath tickled the demon lord's nose. In one fluid motion she pressed herself against him and kissed his lips passionately. He shut his amber eyes and deepened the kiss, moving slightly against her and causing her to moan softly into his mouth.

Rin pulled away slowly as he opened his eyes to stare into hers and as she ran her fingers gently over his chest and through his silver hair, the moon outside seemed to glow especially bright.

"Good night my love."

Though it was late at night, Inuyasha was awoken by a knock on the door.

He groaned and removed Kagome's arms from around his waist, lifting his head lazily then forcing himself up off the futon. Slowly he sauntered over to the door and opened it.

"K-Kagura."

"Don't act so surprised. You didn't honestly think you could get rid of me that easily did you? However, don't bother waking up your mate. I have not come to pick a fight…for once."

From behind Kagura, Kanna appeared, though something was different. Where was her mirror?

"We would like to say…Arigatou."

"For what?"

"You killed Naraku. Now we are free." Kanna continued in her eerie hollow whisper.

"But really…I didn't…" Inuyasha stuttered.

"In any case," Kagura interrupted, "we are grateful."

Inuyasha thought about telling them the truth but decided against it. They were better off not knowing of the circumstances behind Naraku's death. And besides…maybe they already knew.

"So…where are you two going now?" Inuyasha wondered as Kanna took her place beside her sister.

"We've been living in a village that's a good three day trek from here. We're trying to live normal lives and the villagers have assimilated us into their society quite easily."

Inuyasha nodded.

"That's good."

'Inuyasha…" came Kagome's sleepy voice as Inuyasha felt her arms wrap around his.

"Who's--W-What are they doing here?"

Kagome took a step back trying to pull Inuyasha with her but his feet remained glued to the ground as he pulled her back so that she leaned against him.

"They're no longer a threat Kagome." He assured her.

"We should be going now." Kagura interjected, nodding to Kanna then nodding politely to Inuyasha as she pulled out the all too familiar feather and it grew large enough for them to sit on. Slowly they flew into the air on top of the feather and were almost out of sight.

"Ja ne." replied Inuyasha as he and Kagome watched them fly away.

"Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?" he asked as she took his arm, about to lead him inside.

"Do you really trust them? After all, they did try to kill Suki and I."

"As odd as it sounds. I do. I don't know…something in Kagura's eyes told me she really was sorry."

They were inside now and Kagome had sat down on the futon. Inuyasha was still standing, seemingly thinking about the whole situation until he felt Kagome's hands grab his wrists and pull him down roughly onto the futon on top of her.

"I want you to know…that I completely trust your judgement and that I love you very much." Kagome stated as Inuyasha looked down at her.

"Well duh."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Inuyasha brought his head down to hers and gave her an Eskimo kiss.

"If you didn't love me you wouldn't have married me right?"

Kagome pretended to think as Inuyasha waited anxiously for her to say something.

"I suppose you're right."

"You suppose?" Inuyasha questioned.

"Well…how do you know I didn't just marry you because you're cute?"

"Well did you?"

"Of course not silly. You're so gullible." Kagome toyed.

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"I smell ramen."

"Where?"

"Ha!"

"Damn."

"See? You're the cutest hanyou I know." Kagome said softly, almost a whisper as her arms encircled his neck.

"Well you're no troll either." Inuyasha replied matter-of-factly.

"That was a compliment…right?"

Kagome was answered with a kiss as Inuyasha bore down on her slightly, pushing her head back onto the futon. She gasped softly at the impact of his body on top of hers but closed her eyes as he entwined his fingers with hers. His claws lightly brushed the tops of her knuckles as he squeezed her hands and hold them at his sides. He continued to kiss her as if his whole life depended on that kiss…and in reality…it did.

'Where would I be without Kagome?'

Konnichiwa fellow reviewers. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, as did I in writing it. I have plenty more fluff where that came from…after all…what about Trinity and Kanaye? Can't forget them now can I? I hope you guys are pleased that this chapter is longer than usual. Sayonara for now and keep reviewing! The story's winding down but its not over yet so save your tears for the end. Ja ne! Miyu